ifc markets
Uphold
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Overview
ifc markets was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while Uphold was established in 2013 and is based in United States. ifc markets holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Uphold is regulated by FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited among others. ifc markets serves 60,000+ clients worldwide; Uphold has 4,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at ifc markets and $1 at Uphold.
| Feature | ifc markets | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F259 | FCA and FINCEN: Uphold Europe Limited, Reg No. 09281410. Uphold HQ Inc. NMLS ID No. 1269875 |
| Founded | 2016 | 2013 |
| Country | Cyprus | United States |
| Clients | 60,000+ | 4,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ifc markets and Uphold, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Uphold has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at ifc markets). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ifc markets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Uphold does not. Overall, Uphold scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | ifc markets | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
ifc markets offers MT5, cTrader, while Uphold supports a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. ifc markets edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | ifc markets | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | No |
| MT5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web, Desktop & Mobile Apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how ifc markets and Uphold compare. Uphold runs regular live webinars; ifc markets does not. Both provide video tutorials. ifc markets integrates third-party research tools (Autochartist); Uphold does not. Uphold maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. ifc markets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | ifc markets | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | No | No |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. ifc markets accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Uphold supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). ifc markets uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. ifc markets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | ifc markets | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | No |
| Neteller | Yes | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both ifc markets and Uphold offer live chat support. ifc markets offers phone support; Uphold does not. Email support is available at both brokers. ifc markets supports 8 languages and Uphold supports 1, giving ifc markets broader global reach. ifc markets scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | ifc markets | Uphold |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English |